Shots in the Darke
Just finished working out at the Y, trying to burn off a few of those calories I consumed over the weekend. With a holiday party or two to go and way too many leftovers looking at me in the refrigerator plus all of the football bowl games and NFL playoffs looming, I figure that if I stick to my normal workout routine I’ll be back to my fighting weight by March 28th!
With apologies to Charles Dickens, this weekend was an updated version of “A Tale of Two Cities”; the Bengals and Joe Burrow (throwing for a team record 525 yards and 4 TDS) demolished the Ravens for a second time this season to claim the lead in the AFC North. The Browns on the other hand are on life support as far as playoff chances are concerned following a loss on the Frozen Tundra of Green Bay’s Lambeau Field. Baker Mayfield looked rusty again after limited practice due to Covid protocols and an injured left shoulder. It might be another long off-season for Browns’ fans!
Speaking of Covid protocols (and who isn’t sick of doing so?) three bowl games have already been cancelled (the Fenway, the Military, and the Hawaii—I know, I know, who really cares?) with the Sun Bowl in doubt due to Miami’s Hurricanes backing out and Texas A & M bowing out of the Gator Bowl allowing a 5-7 Rutgers to take on Wake Forest. How about those Scarlet Knights!!
More importantly, provisions have been made in the event that any or all of the four playoff teams are unable to play due to the virus. The worst case scenario would be to have no national champion because of forfeits—we can only hope that somebody is healthy enough to raise the trophy!!
Congratulations to Arcanum High School band director Heather Marsh-Myers on being selected to be one of 300 band directors from around the country to perform with the “Marching Band of Band Directors” in the annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day! It’s a real honor for this year’s Arcanum Teacher of the Year recipient in this her sixth year at the county school. The cartoon strip Funky Winkerbean will be following the fictional exploits of “The World’s Greatest Band Director”, Harry L. Dinkle, as he too takes part in the Parade. Hopefully everyone remembers to start with the left foot!!
For high school basketball enthusiasts this week promises to be a busy one! In boys action, Mississinawa and host Franklin-Monroe play in the Jets Tournament, while Ansonia and host Tri-Village go at it in the Patriots Tourney. Greenville sees Stebbins come to town Tuesday and then travels to Vandalia to tangle with the Aviators on Thursday. Arcanum hosts Legacy Christian while Bradford’s resurgent “Roaders participate in the Covington Invitational. On the girls side of play, all eight county teams have at least one game this week while Versailles and Bradford play two.
Congratulations to Versailles’ boys coach Travis Swank on recently winning his 100th game as head coach of the Tigers. He has the defending district champions off to a 6-0 start this year and set to host Miami East and St. Marys this week. I remember Travis as a little kid who lived across the road from my parents, never thinking that he’d be a star at Franklin-Monroe and later the “man” at Versailles!
Final thoughts: Buffalo’s win over the Patriots was huge; the Colts are for real after beating the Cardinals in Arizona; and the Lakers look like an overhyped collection of players past their primes while the Cavaliers are surprising everyone with their team play!
Here’s to resolutions kept in ‘22 and to a healthy and Happy New Year for everyone!!
